Which of the following best explains the connection between increased competition and the evolution of a species by natural selection? (1 point)
A. Individuals that must compete for limited resources are more likely to have diseases that cause mutations.
B. Individuals migrate to another area in order to avoid competition for limited resources in the current ecosystem.
C. Individuals that have traits that allow them to outcompete others survive better and produce more offspring.
D. Individuals must become stronger to compete for resources, and this increased strength is passed on to the next generation.
C. Individuals that have traits that allow them to outcompete others survive better and produce more offspring.
This is the basic idea behind natural selection, where individuals with traits that are advantageous in a given environment tend to survive, reproduce, and pass on those traits to their offspring, while those without these advantages tend to be outcompeted and have fewer offspring. Over time, this can lead to the evolution of a species with adaptations that are suited to its particular ecological niche.
The best explanation for the connection between increased competition and the evolution of a species by natural selection is option C: Individuals that have traits that allow them to outcompete others survive better and produce more offspring.
To determine the best explanation for the connection between increased competition and the evolution of a species by natural selection, let's analyze the options provided:
A. Individuals that must compete for limited resources are more likely to have diseases that cause mutations.
This option suggests that increased competition leads to a higher likelihood of individuals having diseases that cause mutations. However, natural selection is driven by the survival and reproduction of individuals with advantageous traits, not solely through mutations caused by diseases. Therefore, option A is not the best explanation.
B. Individuals migrate to another area to avoid competition for limited resources in the current ecosystem.
While migration can be a response to competition for limited resources, it does not directly explain the evolution of a species by natural selection. Migration can alter the distribution and diversity of species but does not necessarily lead to evolutionary changes within a population. Therefore, option B is not the best explanation.
C. Individuals that have traits that allow them to outcompete others survive better and produce more offspring.
Option C suggests that individuals with traits that give them a competitive advantage are more likely to survive and reproduce, leading to the transmission of those advantageous traits to future generations. This aligns with the principles of natural selection, which favor individuals with traits that enhance their fitness and reproductive success. Therefore, option C is the best explanation among the given choices.
D. Individuals must become stronger to compete for resources, and this increased strength is passed on to the next generation.
While increased strength may contribute to an individual's ability to compete for resources, natural selection is not solely dependent on physical strength. Traits that enhance an individual's overall fitness and reproductive success, which may encompass a range of physical and physiological characteristics, are favored by natural selection. Thus, option D oversimplifies the concept and is not the best explanation.
In conclusion, option C (Individuals that have traits that allow them to outcompete others survive better and produce more offspring) best explains the connection between increased competition and the evolution of a species by natural selection.